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<br />04/25/2002 14:28 FAX 6514525550 <br /> <br />CAMPBELL KNUTSON PA <br /> <br />[4]002 <br /> <br />CAMPBELL KNUTSON <br /> <br />Professional Associ3tion <br />Attorneys ar Law <br /> <br />111Om;1S J. C0.mphell <br />Ror;~r N. Knul,(ll\ <br />Thoma, M. Scott <br />Elliuct B. Knwch <br />Joel J. Jamnik <br />Al\drea McDowell Poehler <br />M:Jlrhcw K. 13rok]+ <br />~ A~n uan.~cd in 'XItU:iJn.~m <br /> <br />(651) 452- 5000 <br />Fax (651.) 452~5550 <br /> <br />John f. Kdly <br />M:mhew J. F"li <br />Soren M. Mauick <br />Ma'1;u~rite M. McCarron <br />Gina M. Brandt <br /> <br />April 25, 2002 <br />VIA FACSIMILE AND U.S. !v1An... <br /> <br />Mr. Dennis Welsch <br />City of Roseville <br />2660 Civic Center Drive <br />Roseville, MiImesota 55113-1899 <br /> <br />Re: Ordinances Regulating Sexually Oriented Uses <br /> <br />Dear Dennis: <br /> <br />The following letter is intended to inform you of the procedure for adoption of <br />ordinances regulating adult entertainment establishments and to provide you with background <br />information regarding what a city can and cannot regulate with respect to adult entertainment <br />businesses. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND REGARDlNG PEllMISSIBLE MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS <br /> <br />The intent of placing zoning ordinance restrictions on sexually oriented businesses is to <br />regulate sexually oriented businesses, not pornography, in a content-neutral manner. Activities <br />occurring in an adult entertainment business are protected by the First Amendment and its <br />provision for freedom of speech. Thus, the Supreme Court has concluded that cities must <br />allow some reasonable opportunity for adult businesses to operate. Recent federal cases have <br />given some guidance regarding appropriate time, place, and roaTUler restrictions placed on <br />sexually oriented businesses. <br /> <br />Regulations of adult businesses must serve a substantial governmental interest and must <br />allow for "reasonable alternative avenues of communication." An otdiPance regulating adult <br />entertainment businesses may serve a substantial governmental interest where a city <br />appropriately relies on other cities' studies showing "adverse secondary effects" resulting from <br />the location of adult entertainment businesses, such as increases in crime and a decrease in <br />property values. A city is not required to produce its own study, but may rely on studies done <br />by other cities as a basis for enactment of zoning regulations, if the reliance is reasonable. <br /> <br />The more difficult question is determining what constitutes "reasonable alternative <br />avenues of communication." Courts have routinely upheld distance ordinances separating adult <br /> <br />Suite 317 . E8.g8J:lOBk Office Center · 1.380 Corpon'\te Center Curve · Eagan, MN 55121 <br />